An ultra-thin radiation detector includes a radiation detector gas chamber having at least one ultra-thin chamber window and an ultra-thin first substrate contained within the gas chamber. The detector further includes a second substrate generally parallel to and coupled to the first substrate and defining a gas gap between the first substrate and the second substrate. The detector further includes a discharge gas between the substrates and contained within the gas chamber, where the discharge gas is free to circulate within the gas chamber and between the first and second substrates at a given gas pressure. The detector further includes a first electrode coupled to one of the substrates and a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode. The detector further includes a first discharge event detector coupled to at least one of the electrodes for detecting a gas discharge counting event in the electrode.

A radiation detection device includes a sensor having a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrode each defines a plurality of fingers comprising a nanotube material, and the fingers of each electrode are interdigitated with one another. A voltage source may be configured to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes. A chamber contains the sensor with a gas, one or more walls of the chamber enabling passage of radiation external to the chamber. A detection circuit detects radiation within the chamber based on a change in current across the first and second electrodes resulting from ionization of the gas by the radiation.

A radiation detection device includes a sensor having a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrode each defines a plurality of fingers comprising a nanotube material, and the fingers of each electrode are interdigitated with one another. A voltage source may be configured to apply a voltage across the first and second electrodes. A chamber contains the sensor with a gas, one or more walls of the chamber enabling passage of radiation external to the chamber. A detection circuit detects radiation within the chamber based on a change in current across the first and second electrodes resulting from ionization of the gas by the radiation.

Water soluble, low alpha particle emission, electrically conductive coatings and techniques for formation thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming an electrically-conductive coating on a substrate includes the steps of: forming an aqueous solution of a water soluble polymer (e.g., a polyvinylpyrrolidinone polymer or copolymer); adding electrically conductive filler particles to the aqueous solution above a percolation threshold to form a mixture; and depositing the mixture onto the substrate to form a low alpha particle emitting, electrically-conductive coating on the substrate, wherein the coating blocks alpha particles from being emitted from the substrate. An article and an alpha particle detector having a surface(s) thereof covered with the coating are also provided.

Water soluble, low alpha particle emission, electrically conductive coatings and techniques for formation thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method for forming an electrically-conductive coating on a substrate includes the steps of: forming an aqueous solution of a water soluble polymer (e.g., a polyvinylpyrrolidinone polymer or copolymer); adding electrically conductive filler particles to the aqueous solution above a percolation threshold to form a mixture; and depositing the mixture onto the substrate to form a low alpha particle emitting, electrically-conductive coating on the substrate, wherein the coating blocks alpha particles from being emitted from the substrate. An article and an alpha particle detector having a surface(s) thereof covered with the coating are also provided.

A radiation detection assembly that includes an ionization chamber having a cathode and an anode. The ionization chamber detects radiation that passes into the ionization chamber. The assembly includes an exterior enclosure defining a hollow internal volume within which the ionization chamber is enclosed. The exterior enclosure includes at least two layers. At least one of the layers provides an electromagnetic shield to the hollow internal volume and the ionization chamber enclosed therein.

A particle beam detector system can comprise a particle beam generator, a particle beam fluence and position detector array based on Micromegas technology, and data readout electronics coupled to the position detector array. The particle beam fluence and position detector array can comprise a sealed, gas-filled, ionizing radiation detector chamber. A printed circuit board (PCB) can be disposed within the ionizing radiation detector chamber, the PCB comprising a multi-layer array arrangement of interconnected conductive sensor pads comprising three planar coordinate grids, X, Y, and ST (stereo) situated on separate layers of the PCB. The multi-layer array arrangement of interconnected conductive sensor pads can comprise a first footprint. A dielectric lattice structure can be disposed over the PCB and the multi-layer array arrangement of sensors. A conductive mesh structure can comprise a second footprint disposed over the dielectric lattice structure and extending over an entire area of the first footprint.

A method of measuring ionizing radiation may include the steps of: a) creating charged particles; b) causing the charged particles to generate the electrons; c) collecting at least a portion of the multiplied free electrons using at least two anode pads provided within the chamber, each anode pad producing a corresponding anode output signal, to provide higher sensitivity; and d) recording each anode output signal.

A method of measuring ionizing radiation may include the steps of: a) creating charged particles; b) causing the charged particles to generate the electrons; c) collecting at least a portion of the multiplied free electrons using at least two anode pads provided within the chamber, each anode pad producing a corresponding anode output signal, to provide higher sensitivity; and d) recording each anode output signal.

A radiation dosimeter includes a first radiation detector configured to operate in a counting mode, and a second radiation detector configured to operate in a current mode. A processor is configured to calculate a first detected dose of the first radiation detector, a second detected dose of the second radiation detector, and a total dose value using the first detected dose and the second detected dose. An alarm indicates when the total dose value is above a predetermined level.